Blowtorch



July 12, 1949. R. l.. LIVINGSTON BLOWTORCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001'..ll, 1946 July 12, 1949. R. L. LIVINGSTON v 2,476,245 BLQwToRCH Filedoct. 11, 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Hof/MMA Patented July 12, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BLOWTORCH Robert L. Livingston, Williamsport, Pa.

Application October 11, 1946, Serial No. 702,611

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in blow torches. An object of theinvention is the provision of a quick lighting and self-generatingdouble duty blow torch in which a friction hinge is employed between aprimer and a fuel tank carrying a combustion tube for regulating theposition of the primer relative to the combustion tube for causing rapidignition and combustion of the fuel, the ame from the primer beingextinguished after the combustion tube is in operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an eiiicient blowtorch in which a friction hinge is used for connecting a primer with afuel tank in such a manner that the flame from the primer may be placedat any point along the combustion tube for igniting the fuel led to saidtube by a wick and for pre-heating said tube, the arrangement being suchthat the body of the primer may be employed as a handle when the fueltank becomes hot after long use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a neat and compactblow torch having a fuel tank which will not leak when held in variouspositions` and which may be lled in an upright position, wicks in thefuel and a priming tank being each housed in an internally threadedpassage so that said wicks may be removed or replaced readily, afriction hinge connecting the fuel and priming tanks together so thatthe priming tank may place the flame of its wick in various positionsalong the combustion tube and a generator tube associated with the fueltank, the wick in the fuel tank extending into the generator tube whichprojects into the combustion tube, the combustion tube being removableso that the generator tube may act as a double duty torch, the flame atthe free end of the generator tube being maintained by the flame fromthe priming wick.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my blow torch.

Figure 2 is a side View in elevation of the torch with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the priming tank and the fueltank showing a connecting friction hinge.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section similar to that shown in Figure 3, butillustrating a modied form of friction hinge.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of 2 the generator tube withthe combustion tube attached.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of the blow torch showing the combustiontube removed, and

Figure 7 is a View in elevation of the blow torch illustrating theoperation of the priming tank in various positions relative to thecombustion and generator tubes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I0 designates a fuel tankwhich is closed by a cover I I. A wick tube I2 inclined at an acuteangle to the cover is sealed in an opening I 2 in said cover with anopen end I3 projecting into the tank. A wick I4 has a portion in thetube and a portion I5 extending downwardly into the fuel in the tank.The upper outer portion I6 of the wick is disposed within a generatortube I'I.

The outer free end of the tube I2 is threaded (Fig. 5') to receive theinternal threads of a filler cap 20. An insulating washer 2I is held inplace on the outer end of the tube I2 by the cap 26. A slotted nut 22 isthreaded onto the inner end 23 of the tube I'l and is forced tightagainst the washer 2| for holding the generator in position on the outerend of the tube I2.

The ller cap 20 is formed with an axial opening 20 of a diameter greaterthan the generator tube I1 and a second insulating Washer 24 is held inplace on the generator tube I1 by means of a nut 21, which is welded orotherwise secured to the tube so as to obtain an air tight connection.The tube I'I is threaded into a combustion tube 26. The outer surfacesof the inner end of the combustion tube and the inner surfaces of thetube I1 are threaded for increasing the heat conducting area. The innerthreaded surface of the tube I 'I aids in maintaining the portion I6 ofthe wick in position.

The outer free end of the tube I1 is counterbored as shown at 30, toreceive a disk 3I which is rolled into place so that it will have anairtight fit in the counterbored groove 30. The center of said disk isprovided with an orice 32 from which fuel vapors issue for maintainingcombustion in the chamber in the tube 26. In this connection it isimportant to note that the wick portion I`6 stops inwardly a Substantialdistance from the outer end of the generator tube I1 forming a vaporexpansion chamber 25 and that the lower portion of the combustion tube26 extends inwardly beyond the chamber 25.

The combustion tube 26 has a plurality of ports 33 properly arranged forsupplying air in regulated proportions to said tube to maintaincombustion.

A friction hinge 35 (Figure 3) connects a primer tank 3G with the fueltank I. The hinge consists of a pair of parallel bars 3l which have theopposite ends pivotally mounted on pins 33 carried by journals 39 and:i0 at the ends of respective curved brackets :il and d2. The bracket 4|is secured to the tank l@ adjacent the upper end while the bracket li?is secured tovan intermediate portion of the tank 35. Each pivot pin hasheads 43 at the opposite ends thereof for frictionally pressing the endsof the bars against the ends of the bearings.

A modified form of hinge is shown at i5 in Figure 4, in which journals46 and 41 are connected to the respective tanksl HJ and 36. Pins 48 inthe journals form pivots for a pair of parallel bars llil. Heads on theopposite ends of said pins press against the bars for holding said barsfrictiona-lly in position and likewise the tank 36.

The primer tank 35 (Figure 2') has its upper open end externallythreaded to receive an internally threaded filler cap 5I. An insulatingwasher 52 is pressed upon the upper free end of the tank 38 by the cap5l. An ori'ce in a closure 5I-a is closed by a plug 53 threaded intosaid orifice. A pin 515 carried by the plug 53 projects into the upperend of the closure i-a adjacent the upper end of a priming wick whichterminates in said closure. The pin or wire 54 is employed for cleaningthe orifices when they become choked with carbon.

The wick 55 is held place in the tank 3S by an internally threadedsleeve 6l! upon which a closure Sl-a is threaded. The sleeve projectsdownwardly for a short distance into the tank 36, while the outerthreaded portion Si' of the sleeve extends above the cap. The lower endof the closure is seated upon the top of the iiller cap 5|.

The operation of my device is as follows: The

tank l@ is placed in a vertical or upright position and the cap 2i)together with the attached generator Vl. The combustion tube 25 and thewick l5 is removed as a unit andthe tank is filled with fuel. The cap isthen replaced together withV the wick l5 since'said wick is carriedbythe cap and tube- 1T.

The'primertank 36 isL moved to a vertical` position and: is supported inthis position by the friction hinge 35 from the tank lll. The fillingcap 5t iis removed together with the wick 55 and the-tank 3E issupplied' with fuel. The wick andi cap are then replaced".

The closure tit-a is unscrewed and the outer end of the'wick 55isi'gnited bya suitable means. The tank 36 is. adil'isted so that theflame 55 will play upon the' threaded portion of the combustion tube 2Gfor causing the*f tube il to generate-vapors'which expand into thechamber 25 and pass through the orifice 32 at the' outer end: of theItube Il. These vaporsI are ignited by the flame 65 which is extinguishedafter the torchy is operating properly.

Thefheat from-the flame G5 maintains the conibustiontube 26and thegenerator tube H at the proper temperaturesl so vapors will be suppliedtov the air drawn through the portsv 33 to maintain. the flame 66 at alltimes. The threads` on the interior. and exterior of the tubes l1 and 26will', increase thel radiating surface of said tubes.

The washers-2l7 andv2 -beinglformedr of insulating materials will aid inpreventing too great a rise in the temperature of the member I2 and thetank li). If, however, the tank I0 becomes too not for handling afterlong use of the torch, the tank 3B may be employed as a handle and thefriction hinge 35 will retain the tank l0 in a predetermined positionrelative to the tank 35.

Referring more particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen. that thecombustion tube 26 has been removed from the generator'tube Il so that adouble-duty torch is acquired. At this time the flame B5 is maintainedthroughout the time that the flame SE-a is used and the tank 36 isadjusted by the hinge 35 so that the flame 65 will play on the outer endof the tube I1.

It will be seen that by this construction a steady and intense iiame GSwill be maintained during the operation of the torch. In view of theparticular arrangement of the cap 20, washers 2i, 2li and nuts 22 and?@Il of the generator I'I, the torch will not leak during operationthereof. wif-.en the tank iti is filled to a pre-determined height theinner end of thel tube l2 will prevent fuel from entering said tube whenthe tank isin horizontal. position, and when full pressure has developedin the fuel tank, the torch will operate in any position.

I claim:

l. A blow torch comprising a fuel tank, a priming tank, means connectingthe tanks together for adjustably positioning the priming tank'relativeto the fuel tank, wick tube communieating with and extending from thefuel tank, an internally and externally threaded generator tube havingone end extending into the wick tube and the other or outer end providedwith a vapor discharge oriiice, a ller cap'threa'ded onto the outer endof the wick tube having an axial, opening, the generator tube beingdisposed through said opening in axial alignment with the wick tube.insulating washers at opposite faces of the cap, nuts threaded on thegenerator tube and forcing the washers against the opposite faces of thefiller cap, an internally and externally threaded combustion tubescrewed on the generator tube and having a portion provided with airports, a wick having one end held in the generator tube by the internalthreads therein and extending from said tube into the fuel tank, and awick in the priming tank for producing a fiame ,for heating thegenerator tube and igniting vapors in the combustion tube.

2. A blow torch comprising a fuel tank, a wick tube projecting from andin communication with said tank, a ller cap on the free end of the wicktube and having an axial opening, an externally and internally threadedgenerator tube for producing fuel vapors extended through the openingand having one end projecting into the wick tube, said generator tubebeing of a diameter less than the opening of the ller cap, a combustiontube having one end threaded onto the other end of the generator tube,the other end of the combustion tube being provided with air ports, theouter end of the generator tube having a vapor discharge orifice, a wickdisposed in the generator tube stopping inwardly of the dischargeorifice forming a vapor expansion chamber, the wick also being disposedin the wick tube and the tank and having a portion held in place by theinternal threads of the generator tube, said 'generator tube, combustiontube, cap and wick being removable as a `unit from the tank, and a lampconnected to the tank for playing a flame on the generator tube and forigniting vapors issuing from the generator tube.

3. A blow torch comprising a fuel tank, a wick tube projecting from andin communication with said tank, a filler cap on the free end of theWick tube and having an axial opening, an externally and internallythreaded generator tube for producing fuel vapors disposed through theopening and spaced therefrom and having one end projecting into the Wicktube, a combustion tube having one end threaded onto the other end ofthe generator tube, the other end of the combustion tube being providedwith air ports, the outer end of the generator tube having a vapordischarge orifice, a wick disposed in the generator tube stoppinginwardly of the vapor discharge orifice to denne an expansion chamber,the wick also being disposed in the wick tube and the tank and having aportion held in place by the internal threads of the generator tube,said combustion tube being removable from the generator tube so that thegenerator tube at the orice will produce an intense pencil-like flameafter the generator tube has been heated and the vapors eXuding from theorice are ignited, and a lamp connected to the tank for playing a nameon the generator tube and for igniting vapors issuing from the generatortube.

4. A blow torch comprising a fuel tank, a priming tank, a fuelvapor-generator communicating with the fuel tank and a combustion tubehaving a portion embracing the generator with the remaining portion ofsaid tube extending outward ly from the generator, said priming tankhaving means for producing a flame for igniting the vapors in thecombustion tube, and a friction hinge connecting the tanks togetherwhereby the flame from said priming tank may be directed at any pointalong the combustion tube.

ROBERT L, LIVINGSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,966,250 Lasher July 10, 19342,045,956 Lenk June 30, 1936 2,094,259 Brody Sept. 28, 1937 2,102,404Brody Dec. 14, 1937 2,188,460 Levit Jan. 30, 1940

